Archive for the ‘National Service Member Celebration’ Category

Always wonder what it might be like to live in Las Vegas, Nevada? Known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for entertainment, shopping and fine dining. A growing retirement and family city, Las Vegas is the 28th most populous city in the United States.

Las Vegas is also home to a large nonprofit sector working diligently to improve high school graduation rates, end childhood hunger, save the environment and eradicate poverty. United Way of Southern Nevada is currently recruiting for 14 VISTAs and one VISTA Team Leader to serve 8/6/2012 – 8/9/2013 in the Las Vegas area.

By increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations, we ensure that these key organizations are able to survive the economic downturn & continue to provide for the clients which rely upon them. AmeriCorps VISTA members will serve in capacity building assignments: building and strengthening the overall capacity of local nonprofit organizations, i.e., resource development capacity & volunteer management capacity. The VISTA Team Leader will support these efforts by providing one-on-one support to VISTA members. This support will be provided via regular site visits, team meetings, trainings and service projects for members. To be eligible to serve the VISTA Team Leader, applicant must have successfully completed at least 1 term of VISTA service.

The VISTA member will partner with Arthritis Foundation staff to develop Life Improvement exercise classes for low income individuals living in southern Nevada. The member will also research & develop grants to sustain & grow existing programs designed to decrease on the job injury. These programs for employees not only reduce on the job injuries, but keep employees at work & able to perform their job duties. Targeted employees are generally low income, 78% of which are Hispanic, earning $8-$12 an hour. The VISTA member will explore avenues to increase funding for needy families affected by Juvenile Arthritis to enable them to attend educational conferences as well as enable children affected by JA to attend medically supervised summer camps. The VISTA member will cultivate community partner relationships to increase in-kind and monetary support for programs to benefit low income populations in southern Nevada. The VISTA member will additionally develop relationships with system partners who currently offer Arthritis Foundation Life Improvement classes to the public at low- or no-cost. The VISTA member will implement these strategies which will increase the organizational capacity of the Foundation.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Las Vegas (BGCLV) serves an average of 1,000 kids per day, ages 5-18, and has a special focus on children and teens from challenging or disadvantaged circumstances. Members often come from low income/single parent households and face challenging obstacles to succeed. The BGCLV strives to provide positive roles models that can have a meaningful impact on these lives. Volunteers are essential to the organization, in not only becoming role models for members, but also bringing new skills & services that allow them to provide quality programs for the kids benefit and enjoyment. Volunteer involvement, whether individual or corporate, also creates strong relationships with the community that seeks to invest in the future of youth. The VISTA member will be responsible for continuing to develop the capacity of the BGCLV newly established Volunteer Management Program. Duties will include building on the existing program & evaluating the effectiveness/success of its current components. In addition, the VSITA member will work with all agency volunteers to provide ongoing opportunities to serve Club members and the organization. The VISTA member will work closely with BGCLV staff to identify volunteer needs and professional development training for staff on best practices when working with volunteers.

Within the foster care community there exists the primary need to strengthen families. The Child Focus program connects separated siblings in foster care, providing opportunities for them to heal, grown and maintain their sibling bond during a very difficult chapter in their life. The experience of the individual placed at the Child Focus office would include helping families (primarily children & youth in foster care) strengthen their family bonds. Strengthening families is a key tenant in helping families to break the cycle of abuse & neglect. The VISTA member would work with staff from St. Jude’s Ranch for Children’s Child Focus program to balance capacity building projects in three program areas: Cyber Siblings, Mentoring and Academic Success. The VISTA member would help siblings communicate with one another without direct contact via cell phones and computers as part of the Cyber Sibling Program. In the event a brother or sister moves from their current foster home, they would be able to continue communicating via technology at their new placement. The VISTA member would recruit potential volunteer cyber mentors to support the Cyber Sibling program. Additionally, the VISTA would recruit volunteer academic mentors to help youth involved in the program graduate high school. The VISTA member would help St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, Child Focus, work towards the goal of breaking the cycle of abuse and create healthy, independent & family oriented individuals as they leave the foster care system. The capacity building that the VISTA member will provide will help meet this need in southern Nevada.

The VISTA member will outreach to new & existing partners in the community to identify opportunities for youth to volunteer as well as to identify opportunities for community members to volunteer in activities which promote education and student success. The VISTA will develop key talking points & guidelines for conversations, coordinate trainings, place volunteers in school settings as well as develop & maintain a database of volunteer opportunities and completed activities. The VISTA will develop systems to ensure the sustainability of service initiatives beyond the VISTA program. In addition, the VISTA will maintain & enhance a social media campaign to bring community-wide awareness to education themed volunteer opportunities. The VISTA will develop volunteer opportunities that enable community members to become involved in school programs that promote economic development in southern Nevada. Volunteers will be trained and placed in school settings that will prove them with successful & engaging experiences and ones that will also enrich the lives of students. The VISTA will help enable more caring adults to be involved in and positively influence student lives with the goal of helping youth achieve success in school as well as graduate from high school.

The VISTA opportunity at Goodwill of Southern Nevada has two primary strategic objectives. First, the VISTA member will help Goodwill develop sustainable programs for financial stability (VITA/EITC, Financial Education & Asset Development) to be integrated long-term into the organization’s workforce development mission. Secondly, the VISTA member will help Goodwill secure grants to support these financial stability programs, Goodwill’s VISTA member will support volunteer outreach, recruitment, training & certification as well as provide necessary oversight to ensure volunteer retention. They will also develop & implement volunteer recognition activities. The VISTA member will conduct asset development outreach, identify asset development tools to be utilized by Goodwill’s clients and act as a liaison with United Way of Southern Nevada & the Internal Revenue Service. The member will also provide feedback & evaluate financial stability programs, coordinate VITA & Asset Development site(s). The VISTA will research asset-building services and research & evaluate funding leads, assist in grant-writing and help cultivate relationships with prospective funding sources to diversify funding streams for Goodwill’s financial stability programs. The ideal candidate will be creative, self-starting, highly organized, professional, personable, patient & flexible. Bilingual candidates with prior volunteer experience are desirable. Successful candidates will be able to interact & work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

NVHC currently has a small but effective volunteer program and are in need of a VISTA member to devote time and energy into making the program robust and sustainable. The VISTA member will be responsible for enhancing training materials, recruiting volunteers and keeping them engaged. The VISTA member will be charged with growing the volunteer program through strategic recruitment, volunteer orientation and monthly volunteer training. The VISTA member will create a team of volunteers who will reach the underserved & poverty-stricken residents of the Las Vegas community to help eliminate health disparities and poverty by referring them to affordable health services. The VISTA member & core volunteers will attend community events included but not limited to health fairs, nonprofit events & various meetings in order to reach people living in poverty who need access to affordable health care services. The VISTA member will work toward the NVHC mission by deepening their impact within the underserved community through health education, health advocacy & referral to health services. The VISTA member will play a vital role in identifying opportunities & partnerships to best educate NVHC target populations, such as those living in poverty, regarding access to affordable health care.

The VISTA member will address the need for greater financial stability in Nevada. According to the Corporation for Enterprise Development, 45% of Nevada households are asset poor, or lack the ability to live at poverty level for three months in the absence of income. This presents a significant challenge for the stability of Nevada families, communities and schools. By supporting the establishment of a year round asset development center, the VISTA member will decrease poverty in Nevada by mitigating asset poverty. The VISTA member in partnership with Nevada Partners staff will build organizational capacity and support many aspects of their poverty mitigating programs. In particular, the VISTA member will play a central role in establishing long term sustainable financial stability programs & services. The member will recruit, retain & recognize volunteers for the VITA/EITC (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance/Earned Income Tax Credit) program as well as ensure they receive the training and certification necessary to volunteer with the program. Through the member’s efforts, Nevada Partners anticipates a reduction in financial instability & an increase in its financial stability service array. Currently, Nevada Partners operates a VITA site during tax season. With support from a VISTA member, they would establish a year round asset development center proving free tax services; year round financial literacy education & asset develop programming.

The AmeriCorps VISTA member will work in partnership with NPHY staff to extend, expand and enhance current multi-pronged outreach & volunteer programs to ensure homeless youth get off the streets. NPHY’s outreach program includes preventative outreach to youth in schools, intervention outreach to youth living on the streets, and training & outreach to community stakeholders. The VISTA will focus on further developing youth-centered outreach program thereby enabling NPHY staff & volunteers to make a real difference in the lives of more homeless youth. The VISTA will coordinate & expand the current in-school preventative & educational outreach program where NPHY volunteers staff information tables at southern Nevada high schools and provide information on Safe Place (a 24/7/365 mobile crisis intervention service assessable to any youth in crisis) and other NPHY services. The VISTA will be responsible for working with school administrators to schedule these events as well as to recruit and coordinate volunteers to staff the tables. The VISTA will also take the lead on a new outreach program with Village of Hope and Whitney Elementary School to establish a “remote outreach center” at Village of Hope, an intensely at-risk, low-income neighborhood with a large population of homeless youth. The VISTA will be responsible for collaborating with Village of Hope & Whitney elementary to develop & execute the project. Once implemented, the VISTA will recruit & coordinate volunteers to staff the outreach center and to canvass the neighborhood to advise residents of NPHY services. The VISTA will also coordinate a lecture program that teaches youth in youth groups, school clubs, recreation centers and more about youth homelessness and challenges young people to volunteer & become an active part of the solution.

For many years, Outside Las Vegas Foundation (OLVF) facilitated the development of open space & trails resources. OLVF is now focusing on connecting the community, with an emphasis on children & families in less advantaged communities, to these resources. As a result, OLVF is expanding into several program areas that will need a variety of capacity building & organizational assistance. The OLVF believes that building connections to southern Nevada’s outdoor places contributes to strong community ties, better familial bonds, & increased economic vitality. OLVF provides new opportunities, inspirations & goals for children & families through outdoor experiences either by educational experiences including supplementing curriculum, stewardship & civic engagement events, or by focusing on health & fitness improvement. These experiences directly benefit young people by improving physical & mental health and have been shown to improve scholastic achievements. The cycle of poverty is complex & the OLVF approaches the solution through innovative community & family investment. Their programs compliment others that address housing, food, & basic needs by providing mental & emotional nurturing. The VISTA will coordinate field-trips & other programs are throughout the year, assist with grant writing to secure funds for transportation for future outings for children & families, & provide volunteer event coordination for the programs with the City of Las Vegas. A formal partnership agreement with the National Park Service will assist the OLVF in their efforts to connect more urban community members to public lands through education & environmental outreach. The VISTA will play in important role as outreach strategies are built. The OLVF is working with funding partners to develop capacity to effectively expand communications & outreach efforts. The VISTA will implement the recommended strategies & provide vital investment in building organizational capacity.

The VISTA member will coordinate all volunteer aspects of The Salvation Army programs & services that assist low-income & homeless people in order to alleviate poverty, obtain or increase income and achieve or retain permanent housing to lead them to lives of self-sufficiency and independence. The VISTA will revise and update current volunteer policies & procedures, serve as a liaison with departments and survey staff to assess their volunteer needs. Additionally, the member will generate appropriate volunteer projects and descriptions, provide appropriate support & training for volunteers, recruit, assign & schedule volunteers to appropriate tasks as well as monitor, support, motivate & recognize their efforts. The VISTA will make presentations to colleges, businesses, and community organizations regarding the volunteer needs and keep up to date on legislation & policy regarding volunteerism. The VISTA will monitor & track volunteer activities and design & implement appropriate systems of recognition. The VISTA will work with staff & volunteers to support the Women’s Auxiliary events, support the Angel Tree toy distribution program and manage all aspects of the Community Garden including ordering supplies, developing grants and recruiting and supervising garden volunteers.

As part of United Way of Southern Nevada’s (UWSN) national service program, the VISTA member assigned to UWSN’s Volunteer Center will design & implement multi-tiered programs to engage individuals in education-themed volunteer opportunities. The VISTA member will interact with schools, businesses, & nonprofits in the development of these projects. Additionally, the VISTA member will coordinate a high-school volunteer & recognition program in partnership with Clark County School District and area high schools. VISTA member will also assist in building the capacity of UWSN’s Volunteer Center in a variety of ways including nonprofit partner recruitment, volunteer opportunity development, recruitment & recognition of individual, family, group & corporate volunteers. VISTA member will participate in the development, implementation & evaluation of multiple large events including but not limited to Project Homeless Connect, the NALC Food Drive, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, Make A Difference Day, MLK Day of Service, etc. Successful candidates will have volunteer recruitment experience, strong computer & writing skills, the ability to multi-task and work as part of a team. Organizational, leadership & time management skills are a must.

The VISTA member would serve in the United Way of Southern Nevada’s (UWSN) Community Development Dept. providing program management for projects classified as Immediate Needs provision. Among the projects included are Project REACH, a utility assistance program; the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (federal grant fiscally managed by UWSN) and the Immediate Needs grant program. All three of the programs are specifically aimed at assisting homeless, low and moderate income members of the community with the basic needs of food, shelter, rent & utilities through funding of partner organizations in Clark County, NV. The work of the VISTA member would directly impact the lives of southern Nevadans living at or below poverty level, as those who seek assistance with basic needs are those most affected by financial instability, including poverty. Specifically, the VISTA will develop a more effective system of reporting & monitoring grants and communicating this system to partner agencies, including providing technical assistance to Local Recipient Organizations and grantee agencies to ensure effective use of grant awards. The VISTA will implement the new system, which will lead to development of effective reporting results for the benefit of agency marketing and communications. Also, the VISTA will be involved with the UWSN Accreditation process which measures local agencies ability to meet standards of excellence in governance, financial accountability and program delivery which is required of agencies prior to applying for financial assistance through UWSN. By working in partnership with a volunteer committee, the VISTA will consult with applicant agencies, conduct site visits and grant awards of accreditation to successful agencies.

The VISTA member will provide support for volunteer recruitment, training, certification, retention & recognition as well as implement an outreach plan for the Earn It Keep It Save It (EKS), Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA), and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) programs in the Las Vegas Valley. The VISTA member will develop additional asset development tools that the VITA site clients can utilize as well as provide in-kind support of marketing materials, office supplies & equipment for VITA and asset development coordination. Additionally, the VISTA member will maintain relationships with VITA sites and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The VISTA member will identify resources and links for veterans and their families, including but not limited to behavioral health, housing, employment, transportation, and medical services. The member will work in partnership with staff to develop new initiatives for veterans & military families, identify and build new partnerships, as well as research and develop resources, write grants, etc. The VISTA will provide support to programs that educate the community on specific populations, i.e., veterans, military families, re-entry, and homeless families. The VISTA will represent WestCare at health fairs, Vet fairs and provide community presentations marketing the scope of services provided by WestCare. The VISTA will create training for new staff & volunteers working with special populations.

Living Allowance & Educational Award

AmeriCorps VISTAs in Southern Nevada will receive a modest living allowance of $1016 each month (before taxes). The Team Leader will receive a living allowance of $1216 each month (before taxes). After the successful completion of a term, VISTAs may be eligible to receive a $5,550 education award.

AmeriCorps Week is a recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service, salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their powerful impact, and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. AmeriCorps Week provides an opportunity for AmeriCorps members, alums, grantees, program partners, and friends to shine a spotlight on the work done by members in communities across the country — and to motivate more AmeriCorps to join AmeriCorps or volunteer in their communities. Spreading the word about AmeriCorps is especially important now, as the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act has put AmeriCorps on a path to grow to 250,000 members annually by 2017.

To celebrate the accomplishments and hard work provided by National Service members in southern Nevada, United Way of Southern Nevada’s Volunteer Center is inviting all current and past National Service members to the 2010 National Service Member Celebration honoring each branch of National Service represented in southern Nevada including AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps VISTA, Senior Corps and Teach for America. You can download the invitation with all the details HERE. Please RSVP to Jennifer at JenniferL@uwsn.org or 702-892-2318 if you are able to attend.

To find out more about what National Service members are doing in southern Nevada and to see if a term of service as an AmeriCorps or AmeriCorps VISTA member is right for you visit our AmeriCorps page and our AmeriCorps VISTA page. The AmeriCorps program is currently recruiting for Summer of Service members and will be recruiting for the 2010-2011 program year starting in July. For more details about AmeriCorps call Michelle at 702-892-2336.

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Congratulations Michelle Redmond & Natalie Minev!

Michelle Redmond – AmeriCorps 2010 Program Director of the Year

Michelle Redmond has managed the United Way’s AmeriCorps program for the past two years. She is in charge of 22 AmeriCorps members positioned with United Way’s partner nonprofit agencies throughout the Las Vegas valley and Pahrump. Michelle works to ensure her AmeriCorps members succeed and they certainly are busy. They are responsible for organizing 2,527 volunteers to pack 54,109 backpacks with ready-to-eat meals; training 71 volunteer attorneys to provide assistance with issues such bankruptcy and family law, including representing domestic violence and child abuse victims; transporting 60 homeless people weekly to get showers, clothing and a meal; providing direct interpretation service for 433 Hispanic individuals; and that is only one quarter of the list. Other members set up immunization clinics, prepare tax returns for the poor, promote literacy, distribute food to the hungry, and mentor or tutor youth. Michelle coordinates it all and she does it with patience and dedication. “Michelle is a nurturing supervisor and is always available to the members to offer suggestions whether their questions are of a professional or personal nature,” said Robin Kelley, Director of the Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada. “Saying that she goes above and beyond the call really doesn’t come close to describing her work ethic. She is simply ‘there’ for each and every one of her members.”

Natalie Minev – 2010 AmeriCorps VISTA Member of the Year

Natalie Minev has been in the AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) Program since last June. She is a dynamo of event coordination and nonprofit outreach. Natalie organized the Volunteer Center’s September 11th Day of Service, which collected a whopping 3.5 tons of donated personal items, 400 banners, and 1,476 hand-written cards for the troops. She coordinated a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Project at two local elementary schools, and is tackling the National Letter Carriers Food Drive on May 8th, which will be her biggest project yet. On top of all that, during her VISTA year, Natalie found time to reach out to 97 new nonprofits to understand their volunteer needs and make them partners of the Volunteer Center, which recruits volunteers for them. When she found a few minutes to spare, she busied herself preparing taxes for low-income individuals and staffing health and resource fairs. Natalie exemplifies the AmeriCorps spirit of getting things done!